The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-09-11
KILLARNEY AND MUCkRoss ABBEY


A Glimpse at the Garden Spot OF Hreinad--
Mr.. Herbert or Killarney and the Earl
OF Bant-y-The Ruins of the Old Francis-
con Chureh-Ths Monks Great Yew Tree.
LAKE HOUSE, KILLARNEY, Aug. 80. "A
A visit to Killarney during tho fine season ia q
delightful diversion amid the angry political
discussions Of press and Parliament. OF club
rooms and even private conversation. II is
unspeaknbly pleasant. after having spent
months amid the decay. the desolation. the
hesrtrending scenes Of poverty to be met with
every where in GlengariY and its nelghbor-
hood. to find one's self all Of a sudden looking
out on q summers evening on the broad ex-
panse OF the lower lake Of Killarney, with the
soft and sunny slopes Of elena to our right,
inviting the eye to follow the green accivi-
ties UP. up to where the sun Is looking
hts last upon the falrest scene In oil
ireland. There are boats full OF excursionists
on the calm bosom Of tho lake hurrying to and
from some one Of the many lovely spots along
the shore. There Is the voice Of song upon the
waters. for who can resist the temptation to
sing Moore's melodies amid the scenery which
woke tho poets genius and inspired his most
rapturous strains2 And You can hear In the
distance. distinct above the sweet sounds Of
vocal music, the notes OF q bugle awnking the
wonderful echoes Of the Eagles Nest and
Mount Sheehy. You look southwark to tho
Alpine walls which enclose tho upper lake
with the surrounding CULTS Of verdure. all filed
at this hour with the deep blue haze and deep
ening shadows Of evening. The eye follows to
the left the stately woods of the Muckross de-
mesne. and rests with intense satisfaction on
the steep slopes OF Tore Mountain. with Its
mantle Of green woods, rising rank upon rank
OF forest trees and shrubs to where the over
hanging rocky crest refuses foothold even to
heath or creeper. Just as we gaze on this YER
durous WALL 80 like those which Milton de-
scribes us enclosing the earthly paradise.
rsys tem ee
the wooded activities with great patches OF
sunshine. which move along and upward till
colored light-a fitting crown of glory to the
landscape beneath. ,,,,,
1t Is my first visit to Killarney, Aims. that 1t
! must retrace my steps to G!engarif. In tho
inlossibllity Of seeing even one.third Of, the
spsaf TI s dve saanSSs f Ss
II is only Just to the Aerberts Of Killarney to
say that they have not allowed their property
to fall into tho decay. the ruin. the degradin;
Bay. the family Of the Earl OF Eantry.
the long o' course o. a e as' Which
SeSoss dA 5sys an h sqoa sFss o%
reckless conduct Of tho young Earl Of Eantry.
Mr; Herbert, they say, was not bad landlord.
ment Of the Muckross dsmesno has now fallen
IL cordially. and % all accounts not undeserved;
X detsstsd BY the tenantry 30 is IT. with LORD
Mnngan, parish priest Of GlengariiI. tells me, is
not hard upon his farmers and tennnts but
systematic tyranny. The paynes. father r and nd
son. enjoy most upenyiable reputation among
that pitiless class. the Irish land agents.
At any rate. there is u marked difference he:
tween the appearance Of careful culture and
prosperity which strikes the visitor to Muck
suualil poverty which marks the condition Of
LORI Bantry's tenants End md those OF his cousin
They have msde /, to LOOK ike what in reality.
p Gent ~ wifi fa{ De ess Sn
ns Be ss 81 cer the estss in Ka4ner
neighborhood-is most, carefully cultivated,
and Its park rare combination Of the boau-
you enter upon at the brow OF the hills over
Nj 81 the a. tGo
skirting the foot OF Toro Mountain. and Afford
ing. through the masses OF the mn;nihcent
lower lakes We were shown Mr.. Mer6ert's
gamekeepsr's lodge and then. from dist ance
Of the assistant seeUers Then ' we PASSED lis
great farm house with the extensive. fields be-
yond. and a little village or street Of cottages.
and comfort to the wretched mockeiies OF hu.
man habtations to be seen around GlengariH
and Bantfy Bays.
was. therefore. quite anxious to explore
the morrow after my arrival. The entrance Is
moi dynamite to blow him Into world :yIds no.
es s ssns sna ssSa S' an fns a
warns you to touch neither tree. nor shrub. nor
flower: aud then YOU drive through . broad
the. lake shore. and stndiod here and there
with gigantic beaches ard oaks. I spent two
richest culture and grandest scenery Of the
Austrian Tyrol; have seen within the last de.
Sfade. In Italy and Spain. without speaking Of
FRANCE the most charming sites In Europe;
and am bound to say that my eyes have never
rested on O. picture OF more varied loveltness
than that afforded rs BY our three h1Srs drive
We. had Just arrived a. the middle Of the
monks who had fcandsd this ancient seat "a OF Of
monnstic piety and Learning. Our Intelligent
followed Of o o long beiore The English ~
q, Muokross fos fnowledee: and BY their
The venerable tvy-mantled ruins Of abbey
and church arc before US. We alight at the
gate q the enclosure which protects The. ruins
with, their cemetery from the intrusion Of man
and beast. All praise to the Herberts Of Muck
the shameful desecration which have wit
messed at Kildare. Ardmore. and other places
In Ireland. where what Is left Of the holy house
Of God and the crowded resting places OF the
dead are left open to the herds and locks, and
the remains Of ancient SCULPTURE and arohitee.
tors who have learned to respect nothing.
The Abbey OF Muckross rs It. now stands was
In the possession of the Franciscans from 1910
down to lis suppression; But long before tho
foundation OF the Franciscan order ~, there
was a church here with Its invariable accom-
paniment In ireland, community Of priests
and schools for the youth OF the surrounding
Formulation. II is only putting the reality be-
fore the eyes OF the imagination to say that the
primitive church ediiice and the schools which
wore ofwood. The whole ISLAND, from the age OF
IT. Pat rick ind his disciple. st. Columbkile. was
covered with lordly forests, and beneath their
shade were multiplied churches and schools to
accommodate the people and communities OF
priests and monks to minister to the peoples
appetite for sacred and profane learning
The cloister. with It's four sides OF arched
walks. was but small clolster; and the cor
riuDr9 were neil her vera wide nor very ala.